Scouts Change Scouts’ Pledge

The Icelandic Boy and Girl Scout Association voted last weekend to change their traditional oath to be “a better fit for the multicultural society which Iceland is”.

The organisation reports that, at least weekend’s conference, a proposal was submitted to give scouts the choice between two, slightly different oaths. Traditionally, the Icelandic Scouts’ Pledge is:

I promise to do everything in my power
to do my duty by God and homeland,
to help others, and to abide the Scout Law.

The newer pledge is much the same, only “God” is replaced with “conscience” and “homeland” is replaced with “society”.

“We like to think this is a better fit for the multicultural society which Iceland is,” the proposal explains. “[It] is better suited for the scouts, as it accommodates different philosophies, and as scouts are of different backgrounds and nationalities.”

The scouts report that the proposal’s approval was met with quite the positive reaction, as “seldom have so many smiley faces been posted in our Facebook group”.

The new choice between the two oaths goes into effect immediately.